THIS LOVELY miniseries should unfold over the course of a season, but instead we’re rushed through eight “chapters” of this version of Richard Russo’s Pulitzer-Prize winning novel in just two airings.

That is, unless you decide to use Comcast’s On Demand feature. In a thrust to get more people on board for the cable feature, viewers can watch this intriguing, complex story one chapter at a time — as it should have been done the first time around.

Of course, you can always record it this weekend and watch at your leisure.

In any event, viewers are in for an extraordinary viewing experience with this richly woven story filled with exceptional performances.

Since Russo also adapted the screenplay, “Empire Falls” follows the novel quite closely as we peer into life in small town Maine. The film captures the essence of that part of the country by filming on location instead of, say Mendocino.

(OK, so we’re still a bitter about “Murder, She Wrote” being based in New England but shot in Mendocino, so the ocean was always on the wrong side.)

No such problems befall this production, which takes us inside Empire Falls, where people are impacted by class differences and ghosts from their pasts.

The story centers on Miles Roby, (a remarkable Ed Harris), whose dreams of a better life were submarined by family obligations. He gave up college to return home after the death of his beautiful mother Grace (Robin Wright Penn).

The tragic Cindy, who is disabled from being hit by a car when she was a toddler, has been nursing an unrequited love for Miles her entire life.

Francine helped Miles through college and gave his mother a place to stay as she battled cancer. But we discover that Francine didn’t do these things out of kindness, but in a perverse way to extract a revenge for past wrongs.

Rounding out the top-flight cast are Dennis Farina as Janine’s lover Walt and Estelle Parsons as Janine’s spunky mom Bea.

The swirling currents of Empire Falls keep us captivated as the stories slowly unfold of both major and minor players. We’re drawn in by the story of teenager John Voss (Lou Tayler Pucci), who is tormented every day of his life by his peers — especially the sadistic Zack (Trevor Morgan).

John digs through trash bins for his clothes, perhaps even his food. Only Tick takes the time to give him a helping hand, but it may not be enough to save someone who has been dealt such a vicious hand in the game of life.

Miles continues to be the quiet in the middle of the small town turbulence until he finally decides to shake up the status quo.

The past keeps coming back to haunt, yet few can escape those long-ago ghosts. In the end, we are left with a satisfying experience, yet long for more from these mesmerizing characters.

If you have any questions about TV, you can reach Susan Young by calling (925) 416-4820, e-mail at syoung@angnewspapers.com, or fax at (925) 416-4874.